Space opera book series in reading order

by Simon R. Green

by Karen Traviss

by Paul J. McAuley

by Allen M. Steele

by Christopher Paolini

by Michael Z. Williamson

by Ian Douglas

by Karen Traviss

Timothy Zahn

98 books• 26 series

Timothy Zahn, born September 1, 1951, is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy who grew up in Lombard, Illinois. The Star Wars books, above all the Thrawn trilogy, are the core of Zahn's reputation, and those novels are credited with reviving interest in the franchise. Original series include Cobra, Blackcollar, Dragonback, Quadrail, Conquerors Saga, Icarus and Sibyl's War. The catalogue lists 99 books by Zahn, starting with The Blackcollar (1983); Trap Line appeared in 2025 and A Call to Deception is due in 2027.

Ben Bova

138 books• 17 series

Ben Bova, born Benjamin William Bova on November 8, 1932, was an American writer and editor whose career lasted 60 years; Bova died on November 29, 2020. As editor of Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Bova won the Hugo Award six times, later served as editorial director of Omni, and was president of both the National Space Society and the Science Fiction Writers of America. The catalogue holds 138 books of science fiction and science fact, from The Star Conquerors (1959) to Pluto (2025). Non-fiction such as The Milky Way Galaxy (1961) sits beside series including Grand Tour, Orion, Kinsman, Sam Gunn, Jake Ross and the Star Quest Trilogy. Subjects name space opera, lunar bases, space stations and space colonies.

Troy Denning

48 books• 24 series

Troy Denning writes fantasy and science fiction and also works as a game designer. The catalogue holds 49 books, from Cosmos Cubed (1988) to Outcasts (2023), with Fireteam Noble due in 2027. Series include Dark Sun: Prism Pentad, Forgotten Realms: Twilight Giants, Forgotten Realms: Return of the Archwizards, Halo: The Ferrets and Halo: A Master Chief Story. The Verdant Passage (1991), The Crimson Legion (1992) and The Cerulean Storm (1993) are among the early titles.

Piers Anthony is the publishing name of Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob, born August 6, 1934, an American science fiction and fantasy writer. The long-running Xanth novels, set in the imaginary realm of Xanth, are his best-known work. Anthony has counted among his chief achievements the publication of a book beginning with every letter of the alphabet, from Anthonology to Zombie Lover, and a number of his books have reached The New York Times Best Seller list. This catalogue lists 195 titles from Chthon (1967) to Knicklepede Knight (2026), including the Apprentice Adept, Cluster, Battle Circle, Mode and Incarnations of Immortality sequences.

David Weber

90 books• 23 series

David Mark Weber, born October 24, 1952, is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy. The Honor Harrington books are his best-known work, and his first novel, written with Steve White, sold to Baen Books in 1989; Baen has remained his principal publisher. Weber's catalogue holds 90 titles from Insurrection (1990) to Challenges (2025), spanning the Honorverse, Safehold, War God, Dahak and Gordian Division series. Space warfare, women soldiers and imaginary wars and battles run through the recorded subjects.

Sean Williams

43 books• 15 series

Sean Williams, full name Sean Llewellyn Williams and born 23 May 1967, is an Australian science fiction author living in Adelaide, South Australia, with several New York Times bestsellers. Catalogue subjects include space opera, hard science fiction, space warfare and fantasy. The 43 books run from Doorway to eternity (1994) to Little Labyrinths: Speculative Microfictions (2021), and Shane Dix shares the credit on 3. Series include Books of the Cataclysm, Evergence, Orphans Trilogy, Astropolis, Twinmaker and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Karen Traviss is a science fiction author from Wiltshire, England, and the creator of the Wess'har Wars series. Tie-in work covers Star Wars, including Republic Commando, plus Gears of War, Halo, G.I. Joe and the Galaxy's Edge: Nomad series with Nick Cole and Jason Anspach. The writing spans novels, short stories, comics and video games. The catalogue lists 36 books, from City of Pearl (2004) to Here We Stand (2023).

Jack Campbell

44 books• 13 series

Jack Campbell is the pen name of John G. Hemry, born April 14, 1956, a retired United States Navy officer who writes military science fiction. Under the Campbell name, Hemry has written 21 volumes of The Lost Fleet and the steampunk and fantasy Pillars of Reality series. Beyond the Frontier continues The Lost Fleet as a spin-off. As Hemry, the Stark's War and Paul Sinclair series appeared, along with short stories in Analog. The 44 catalogued books run from Dauntless (2006) to Squad Kill (2026).

Kevin J. Anderson

182 books• 44 series

Kevin J. Anderson is an American science fiction author, born March 27, 1962. Tie-in work covers Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E. and The X-Files, including comics such as Tales of the Jedi with Tom Veitch. Original series include the Saga of Seven Suns, Saga of Shadows, Terra Incognita, Gamearth and Dan Shamble, Zombie PI, and Assemblers of Infinity was nominated for a Nebula Award. Rebecca Moesta shares credit on 9 catalogued books. The catalogue lists 182 books from Resurrection, Inc. (1984) to Sleep With the Fishes (2026).

Peter David

272 books• 94 series

Peter David (September 23, 1956 – May 24, 2025), often called PAD, was an American writer of comic books, novels, television, films and video games. A 12-year run on The Incredible Hulk won awards, and other comics runs include Aquaman, Supergirl, Fallen Angel, Captain Marvel, X-Factor, Young Justice, SpyBoy and Spider-Man 2099. Star Trek: New Frontier is among David's Star Trek novels. Original series include Knight Life and Apropos of Nothing. The catalogue lists 272 books, beginning in 1984 with Picture Perfect, High Society and Sapphire Star.

David Mack

46 books• 20 series

David Mack is an American writer best known for freelance Star Trek novels, and has also had a Star Trek script produced and worked on a Star Trek comic book. The catalogue lists 46 books from Invincible, Part 1 (2001) to Echoes in Eternity (2026). Series include Star Trek: Vanguard, Star Trek: The Next Generation: Destiny, Star Trek: The Next Generation: Cold Equations, Star Trek: Seekers and the Star Trek Mirror Universe relaunch. Other titles include Wildfire (2002), The Starfleet Survival Guide (2002), A Time to Heal and A Time to Kill (both 2004). Keith R.A. DeCandido shares the credit on 2 books and Robert Greenberger on 1.

Brian Herbert

61 books• 14 series

Brian Patrick Herbert, born 29 June 1947, is an American author known for his work on the Dune franchise created by his father, Frank Herbert. Herbert's own novels include Sidney's Comet (1983), Sudanna Sudanna, Prisoners of Arionn and Man of Two Worlds, written with Frank Herbert. Dreamer of Dune (2003) is Herbert's biography of his father, and Herbert has edited Songs of Muad'dib and the Notebooks of Frank Herbert's Dune. The catalogue lists 61 books to 2024, with Kevin J. Anderson sharing the credit on 6. Series include Legends Of Dune, the Timeweb Chronicles, the Hellhole Trilogy, Stolen Gospels and several Dune graphic novel sets.

Catherine Asaro

38 books• 7 series

Catherine Asaro, born on 6 November 1955, is an American science fiction and fantasy author as well as a singer and teacher. The Saga of the Skolian Empire, about the Ruby Dynasty, is the best-known Asaro work. The catalogue lists 38 books, from Primary Inversion (1995) through Catch the Lightning (1996), The Last Hawk (1997) and The Radiant Seas (1998) to Gold Dust (2025). Series include Skolian Empire, Skolian Empire: Ruby Dynasty, Lost Continent, Major Bhaajan, Sunrise Alley/Charon, Lightning Strike and Dust Knights. Subjects include space opera, androids and Kelric Garlin.

Christie Golden is an American author, born November 21, 1963, of novels and short stories in fantasy, horror and science fiction. The catalogue lists 52 Golden books, beginning with Vampire of the Mists (1991) and running to Blood Ties (2025). Series include Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming, Dark Templar Saga, Starcraft II, Warcraft: Movie Novelization, Star Wars: Battlefront and World of Warcraft: Midnight. Subject tags include Dungeons & Dragons, Ravenloft, space opera, human-alien encounters and Kathryn Janeway. Seven of Nine (1998) is also listed.

John Ringo, born March 22, 1963, is an American author of science fiction and military fiction, with several New York Times best sellers. The work ranges from straight science fiction to military and political thrillers, and more than seven million copies are in print in seven languages. The catalogue starts with A Hymn Before Battle (2000), followed by Gust Front, March Upcountry and March to the Sea in 2001, and reaches Beyond the Rift (2026). Series include Posleen War, Black Tide Rising, Council Wars, Looking Glass, Troy Rising, Von Neumann's War and Special Circumstances. Subjects include space warfare, human-alien encounters, Navy SEALs and survival.

Larry Niven

93 books• 21 series

Larry Niven, born Laurence van Cott Niven in 1938, is an American science fiction writer working primarily in hard science fiction, with elements of detective fiction and adventure. Ringworld (1970) took the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and Ditmar awards, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named Niven its Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master in 2015. Jerry Pournelle co-wrote The Mote in God's Eye (1974) and Lucifer's Hammer (1977) with Niven. The catalogue holds 93 titles from The Coldest Place (1964) to Starborn and Godsons (2020). Series listed include Known Space, Ringworld Prequel / Fleet of the Worlds, Dream Park, Heorot, Moties, State and Magic Goes Away, a fantasy sequence treating magic as a non-renewable resource.

Alastair Reynolds

46 books• 7 series

Alastair Preston Reynolds, born 13 March 1966, is a Welsh science fiction author who specialises in hard science fiction and space opera. Forty-nine books sit in the catalogue, from A Spy in Europa (1997) to Halcyon Years (2026). Revelation Space (2000), Chasm City (2001), Redemption Ark (2002) and Absolution Gap (2003) come early in the run. Revelation Space, Revenger, Poseidon's Children, Medusa Chronicles and the Inspector Dreyfus books are the series credited to Reynolds. Subjects on record include life on other planets, space colonies, space warfare, time travel and human-alien encounters.

William C. Dietz

66 books• 18 series

William Corey Dietz, January 30, 1945 to March 15, 2026, was an American science fiction writer working principally in military science fiction and video game novelizations. Sixty-six titles are catalogued, from Galactic Bounty / War World (1986) to Red Dawn (2025). Series include Sam McCade, Drifter, Winds of War, Mutant Files, America Rising and Star Wars: Dark Forces, and Legion of the Damned stands as the recurring character entry. Subjects name space opera, space warfare, human-alien encounters and imaginary wars. David Drake shares credit on one title.

Kristine Kathryn Rusch, born June 4, 1960, is an American writer and editor who works across science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance and mainstream fiction under several pen names, Kristine Grayson among them. Awards to Kristine Kathryn Rusch include the 2001 Hugo for Best Novelette (Millennium Babies), the 2003 Endeavour Award (The Disappeared) and two Sidewise Awards, for Recovering Apollo 8 in 2008 and The Enemy Within in 2015. Rusch is married to the writer Dean Wesley Smith, who shares credit on 4 catalogued books. The listing runs from the 1988 short story Stained Black to 2026 and includes the Retrieval Artist, Diving Universe, Fey and Oregon Coast / Seavy Village series plus Star Trek tie-ins.

Eric Brown was a British science fiction author and a critic for The Guardian, born on 24 May 1960 and died on 21 March 2023. Catalogue subjects include space opera, human-alien encounters, space colonies and mystery. The earliest listed book is The Time Lapsed Man And Other Stories (1990), followed by Meridian Days (1992) and Engineman (1994). Series credited to Brown include Langham and Dupré Mystery, Starship Seasons, Telemass Quartet, Virex Trilogy and Bengal Station.

Peter F. Hamilton

48 books• 18 series

Peter F. Hamilton is a British author of science fiction space opera, born in 1960. Catalogue entries run from Mindstar Rising (1993) to The Helium Sea (2026). Series include Greg Mandel, Night's Dawn, Commonwealth Saga, Commonwealth: Chronicle of the Fallers, Salvation Sequence, Arkship Trilogy, Archimedes Engine and Queen of Dreams. The Suspect Genome (1993), A Quantum Murder (1994) and The Reality Dysfunction (1996) are among the earlier titles. Space colonies, telepathy and space warfare appear in the subjects.

E.E. “Doc” Smith

30 books• 6 series

E.E. 'Doc' Smith was the writing name of Edward Elmer Smith (1890-1965), an American food engineer who specialised in doughnut and pastry mixes and wrote science fiction. The Lensman and Skylark books are the work Smith is known for, and Smith is sometimes called the father of space opera. The catalogue lists 30 titles dated between 1928 and 1985, from The Skylark of Space (1928) through Spacehounds of IPC (1931), Children of the Lens (1947), Triplanetary (1948) and Gray Lensman (1951). Family d'Alembert, Lord Tedric and Subspace are recorded as further sequences. Subjects include space opera, spaceships, space flight and space warfare.

Neal Asher

44 books• 10 series

Neal Asher, born in 1961, is an English science fiction writer living near Chelmsford. Asher's fiction works in space opera and military science fiction: artificial intelligence, human-alien encounters, space warfare and dystopias run through it. The Polity universe holds most of the catalogue, with Agent Cormac, Spatterjay, Rise of the Jain and Far Future Polity set inside it, and the Owner Trilogy standing apart. Forty-four books span 1994 to 2026, from Africa Zero to Dark Agent.

Ann Leckie

15 books• 2 series

Ann Leckie, born March 2, 1966, is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy. Leckie's debut novel, Ancillary Justice (2013), features artificial consciousness and gender-blindness and won the 2014 Hugo Award for Best Novel along with the Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke and BSFA awards. Ancillary Sword (2014) and Ancillary Mercy (2015) each took a Locus Award. Provenance (2017), Translation State (2023) and Radiant Star (2026) share the Imperial Radch setting, and The Raven Tower (2019) is Leckie's first fantasy novel. The catalogue's 15 titles begin with Hesperia and Glory (2006), and an Imperial Radch short stories and novellas line sits beside the main series.